A Taste of Heave and Earth
Author: Bettina Vitell
For Bettina Vitell the simple art of cooking holds the seeds to a deeper, more life-enriching experience. It is a way to become more aware of ourselves and the world around us, to think clearly and to delight in even the most basic daily activities of our lives.
The dishes in A Taste of Heaven and Earth reflect this Zen philosophy. Bettina Vitell's uncomplicated recipes produce sophisticated, creative meals without ever losing site of her goal of preparing low-dairy vegetarian food. Tastes from both East and West merge with delicious results: here kale and tofu adorn pizza, and udon noodles are dressed with pesto. There are recipes for soup stock and tomato sauce, as well as cashew ginger sauce and apricot lime chutney. The homey breakfast and dessert sections provide recipes for muffins and crisps; and sections on pizza, sushi, curries, and Mexican-inspired foods expand the traditional range of vegetarian cooking.
A Taste of Heaven and Earth explores beyond the reaches of traditional cook-books by offering contemplative essays and ink drawings that heighten the cook's sensory experience in the kitchen. They provide questions and stories that help readers realize the simplicity and beauty inherent in preparing and eating good food.
What People Are Saying
Thomas Moore
"A Taste of Heaven and Earth has the right proportions of heaven and earth. It doesn't gag our throats with philosophy, but rather seasons our cooking and eating with small morsels of reflection. It's a wonderful book to read, taste... and keep forever. It knows that cooking with care is more important than just about anything, and that food is a sacred path to soul."
Jeanne Lemlin
"Bettina Vitell has successfully wedded her lively palate with a purposeful sense of simplicity in the kitchen to create delicious, healthful, and unpretentious recipes. That they are vegetarian is incidental; this food will excite any lover who values fresh imaginative cooking."
Read also Cooking the French Way or Cooking the Mexican Way
Herbalist in the Kitchen
Author: Gary Allen
The foodie's ultimate herbal encyclopedia
Created as the ideal reference for anyone with a serious interest in cooking with herbs, spices, or related plant materials, The Herbalist in the Kitchen is truly encyclopedic in scope. It provides complete information about the uses, botany, toxicity, and flavor chemistry of herbs, as well as a listing for nearly every name that an ingredient is known by around the world.
Even including herbs and spices not yet seen in the United States (but likely to be featured in recipes for adventurous cooks soon), The Herbalist in the Kitchen is organized into one hundred and four sections, each consisting of a single botanical family. The book provides all available information about the chemical compounds responsible for a plant's characteristic taste and scent, which allows cooks to consider new subtleties and potential alternatives. For instance, the primary flavoring ingredient of cloves is eugenol; when a cook knows that bay leaves also contain eugenol, a range of exciting substitutions becomes clear. The Herbalist in the Kitchen also provides guidance about measuring herbs, enabling readers to understand the dated measuring standards from antique cookbooks.
A volume in The Food Series, edited by Andrew W. Smith
Table of Contents:
List of Illustrations xi
Acknowledgments xiii
Introduction 1
Agavaceae 11
Agave
Tuberose
Aizoaceae 13
Khadia
Alliaceae (Amaryllidaceae) 13
Chive
Garlic
Ramps
Society Garlic
Amaranthaceae 21
Amaranth
Polpala
Anacardiaceae 23
Ethiopian Pepper
Mango
Maprong
Pink Peppercorn
Staghorn Sumac
Annonaceae 30
African Nutmeg
Ear Flower
Ylang-Ylang
Apiaceae (formerly Umbelliferae) 32
Ajowan
Alexanders
Angelica
Anise
Asafoetida
Caraway
Carrot
Celery
Chervil
Cilantro
Corkwing
Culantro
Cumin
Dill
Fennel
Fo Ti Tieng
Imperatoria
Imperial
Masterwort
Korean
Watercress
Lovage
Parsley
Pimpinella
Samphire
Sea Holly
Skirret
Spignel
Sweet
Cicely
Trefoil
Yampah
Apocynaceae 71
Arabian Num-num
Frangipani
Quebracho
Aquifoliaceae 73
Mate
Araceae 75
Arum Root
Calamus
Calaloo
Tannia
Araliaceae 78
Acanthopanax
Aralia
Ginseng
Prickly Ash
Aristlochiaceae 81
Colcameca Vine
Wild Ginger
Asclepiadaceae 83
Condurango
Mondia
Asteraceae (formerly Compositae) 84
Ambrosia
Arnica
Bitter
Leaf
Blessed Thistle
Calendula
Carolina Vanilla
Chamomile
Coltsfoot
Common Dandelion
Common Sow Thistle
Costmary
Curry Plant
Davana
Deer Tongue
Echinacea
Elecampane
Feverfew
Fleabane
French Scorzonera
Guascas
Gynura
Iva
Mary Thistle
Mexican Mint Marigold
Mugwort
Ox-tongue
Papalo
Pellitory of Spain
Stevia
Tansy
Tarragon
Toothache Plant
Wild Chicory
Yarrow
Yerba de Conejo
Berberidaceae 114
Barberry
Bignoniaceae 115
Guajes Hauxya
Pau D'Arco
Bixaceae 116
Annatto
Bombacaceae 119
Baobab
Boraginaceae 119
Alkanet
Borage
Comfrey
Lungwort
Brassicaceae (formerly Cruciferae) 123
Candytuft
Cress
Curly Sea Kale
Garlic Mustard
Hairy Bitter Cress
Horseradish
Lady's Smock
Mustard
Pepperroot
Radish
Rocket
Shepherd's Purse
Sweet Rocket
Watercress
Burseraceae (formerly Simaroubaceae) 139
Elemi
Frankincense
Myrrh
Quassia
Calycanthaceae 143
Sweet Shrub
Campanulaceae 144
Rampion
Cannabaceae 145
Hop
Marijuana
Cappardaceae (formerly Capparaceae) 147
Capers
Caprifoliaceae 148
European Elderberry
Honeysuckle
Caryophyllaceae 152
Algerian Tea
Carnation
Celastraceae 153
Khat
Chenopodiaceae 154
Epazote
Cistaceae 157
Cistus
Convolulaceae 158
Water Spinach
Crassulaceae 159
Hens and Chickens
Stonecrop
Cupressaceae 160
Juniper Berry
Cyperaceae 163
Earth Almond
Ericaceae 165
Heather
Labrador Tea
Pipsissewa
Wild Rosemary
Wintergreen
Euphorbiaceae 169
Candlenut
Cascarilla
Chaya
Gentianaceae (formerly Menyanthanaceae) 171
Buckbean
Calumba
Centaury
Chiretta Root
Gentian
Geraniaceae 175
Rose Geranium
Zdravets
Guttiferae (Clusicaceae) 177
Asam Gelugor
Kokum
St. John's Wort
Hydrophyllaceae 179
Yerba Santa
Illiciaceae 180
Star Anise
Irideaceae 182
Orris
Saffron
Lamiaceae (formerly Labiatae) 185
Alpine Basil Thyme
Anise
Hyssop
Balm
Basil
Bee Balm
Betony
Bugle
Calamint
Catnip
Cuban Oregano
Cumberland Rosemary
Dittany
Dittany of Crete
Germander
Ground Ivy
Horehound
Hyssop
Konivari
Lavender
Marjoram
Mint
Moldavian Balm
Motherwort
Native Mint
Oregano
Patchouly
Perilla
Rosemary
Rosemary Mint
Sage
Skullcap
Summer Savory
Thryba
Thyme
White Dead Nettle
Winter Savory
Yerba Buena
Za'atar
Za'atar Farsi
Za'atar Hommar
Lauraceae (sometimes listed as Myrtaceae) 238
Allspice
Avocado
Bay Leaf
Bois de Rose
California Laurel
Cassia
Cinnamon
File
Spice Bush
Leguminosae (sometimes listed as Fabaceae) 251
Abrus
Acacia
Astragalus
Broom
Chepil
Clover
False Acacia
Fenugreek
Goat's Rue
Licorice
Melilot
Mesquite
Parkia
Rooibos
Tamarind
Tolu
Tonka Bean
Liliaceae 269
Aloe
Butcher's Broom
Checkered Lily
Golden Needles
Sarsaparilla
Tassel Hyacinth
Yucca
Magnoliaceae 274
Champaca
Native Pepper
Sweet Bay
Winter's Bark
Malvaceae 277
Alaches
Hollyhock
Marsh Mallow
Musk Mallow
Musk Seed
Rose Mallow
Roselle
Meliaceae 283
Juran
Margosa
Monimiaceae 284
Boldo
Peruvian Nutmeg
Plume Nutmeg
Moringaceae 285
Moringa
Myricaceae 286
Sweet Gale
Myristicaceae 287
Nutmeg
Myrsinaceae 290
Areuj Kathembang
Myrtaceae 291
Aniseed Myrtle
Cajeput
Cloves
Eucalyptus
Lemon Myrtle
Myrtle
Niaouli Leaf
Naiadaceae 300
Cape Pondweed
Nyctaginaceae 301
Four O'Clocks
Nympheaceae 301
Lotus Lily
Oleaceae 303
Ash
Common Lilac
Fragrant Olive
Jasmine
Orchidaceae 306
Vanilla
Oxalidaceae 308
Cucumber Tree
Wood Sorrel
Paeonaceae 310
Peony
Palmae 311
Coconut
Date Palm
Pandanceae 313
Pandang
Papaveraceae 315
Poppy
Passifloraceae 317
Passionfruit
Pedaliaceae 318
Sesame
Pinaceae 320
Balsam Fir
Pine
Silver Fir
Piperaceae (sometimes listed as Peperomiaceae) 323
Culantro de Montana
Pepper
Plantaginaceae 332
Common Plantain
Poaceae (formerly Gramineae) 333
Buffalo Grass
Dog Grass
Lemongrass
Sugarcane
Vetiver
Polygalaceae 338
Rhatany Root
Polygonaceae 339
Bistort
Daun Kesom
Sorrel
Polypodiaceae 345
Bracken
Maidenhair Fern
Pontederiaceae 347
Water Hyacinth
Portulacaceae 348
Anacampseros
Purslane
Primulaceae 349
Primrose
Punicaceae 350
Pomegranate
Ranunculaceae 351
American Cowslip
Nigella
Wild Clematis
Resedaceae 355
Mignonette
Rhamnaceae 356
Cascara Sagrada
Maubi
New Jersey Tea
Rosaceae 358
Agrimony
Berries
Burnet
European Mountain Ash
Herb Bennet
Lady's Mantle
Meadowsweet
Rose
Sloe
Tejocote
Wild Strawberry
Rubiaceae 369
Cinchona
Coffee
Gardenia
Kasembukan
Woodruff
Rutaceae 374
Angostura
Bitter Orange
Boronia
Buchu Leaves
Citron
Citrus Leaves
Curry Leaves
False Dittany
Jambol
Lemon
Lemon Aspen
Rue
Szechuan Pepper
Santalaceae 391
Sandalwood
Sapindaceae 392
Akee
Balloon Vine
Guarana
Sapotaceae 394
Argan
Elengi
Saururaceae 396
Rau Diep Ca
Schisandraceae 397
Schisandra
Scrophulariaceae 397
Eyebright
Indian Paintbrush
Mullein
Rice Paddy Herb
Veronica
Water Hyssop
Solanaceae 401
Belladonna
Boxthorn
Chile Pepper
Henbane
Sterculianceae 410
Cacao
Kola Nut
Taxaceae 413
California Nutmeg
Theaceae 413
Tea
Tilia
Tiliaceae 416
Linden
Mulukhiyya
Tropaeolaceae 417
Nasturtium
Turneraceae 419
Damiana
Urticaceae 420
Nettle
Valerianaceae 421
Corn Salad
Valerian
Verbenaceae 423
Lemon Verbena
Monk's Pepper
Verbena
Violaceae 427
Sweet Violet
Vitaceae 428
Grapes
Zingiberaceae 429
Cardamom
Chinese Key
Costus
Galingal
Ginger
Lesser Galingal
Melegueta Pepper
Turmeric
Zedoary
Zygophyllaceae 446
Guaiac Wood
Fungi and Lichens 447
Angola Weed
Cordyceps
Glossary 449
Sources 465
Bibliography 471
Index 477
